DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Unlimited Distribution Super Guns – Part 1 Most formidable guns the modern world has seen David C. Smith, P.E, IPT Leader Introduction ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Focus of this briefing is to review ‘super’ guns that were actually made and actually fired. – A number of ‘super’ guns have been thought of, but never actually built – we will address only those that exist in reality. – Importance is to gain a context of what it took to: • Make these guns • Fire these guns • Meet their objectives • What real impact they had • For each weapon – we will look at: – Background – What set this weapon apart – Fabrication/Construction – Data – Actual Firing – Objective – Impact (was objective met) – Technical Significance 2 Super Guns – Planned Series ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Definition of a “super” gun: A launch device that was a clear and separate departure from the current state-of-of-the-art and carried a superlative characteristic for its time. • Part 1 – 16” Seacoast Cannon 1901 USA – Paris Kanone 1918 Germany – Schwerer Gustav 1935 Germany • Part 2 – V-3 Vergeltungswaffen 1943 Germany – M65 Atomic Cannon 1954 USA – HARP 1973 USA/Canada • Part 3 – Babylon 1991 Iraq – SHARP 1993 USA – Xianfeng 2000 (?) China 3 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon Background ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • The Endicott Board report in 1886 found the coastal defenses of the US wholly inadequate and recommended a major upgrade. • In 1888 Congress created the Board of Ordnance and Fortification to implement the new program and test the new weapons. • The 16” gun model of 1895 was to be the ultimate weapon in this new system. Seacoast Artillery – Sandy Hook Proving Grounds M1919 16” gun loading on barge 4 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) What set this weapon apart? ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Several other major countries had built 15-18” guns by this time, with limited success, but this gun would be the first to accurately fire a high pressure charge, with a large projectile and attain a long range capability with the destructive power to take out a major warship. • Actual contracts for new equipment were let as early as 1893 – including new shrink pit furnaces • An entirely new manufacturing process, new buildings and skill sets were developed to fabricate this weapon – which took 7 years from start of fabrication to first firing. • An entirely new corps was formed to support the program - the Seacoast Artillery Corps 5 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) What set this weapon apart ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Use of built up tubular sections heat shrunk together was well known and in use in both the US and Europe for some time. The M1895 16” gun was based on this type of construction. • The M1895 set itself apart from these other weapons by using the shrink fit process to pre-stress the inner liner, allowing the cannon to be fired at a much higher pressure. 6 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Fabrication/Construction ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 7 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Fabrication/Construction: ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • The key development in this program was understanding and applying the heat shrink to create a substantial pre-stress in the gun – allowing a much higher charge pressure to be used. 8 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Additionally, this new design generation of guns introduced a replaceable liner as a design feature. Until chromium plating appeared after WW1, the expected wear life of these cannons was between 250 – 500 rounds. • The successor to the M1895 – the M1919 utilized wire winding to develop the pre-stress 9 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Data (M1895): – Bore: 16” (406 mm) – Length: 826.8” (50 caliber) • Projectile Travel: 705.6” – Outer Diameter: 60” (breech) 28” (muzzle) – Rifling: 144 lands and grooves 1-32 constant twist – Weight: 385,847 pounds – Chamber: 40,000 cu in – Range: 54,000 yards (49 km) – Projectile Weight: 2,340 lbs – Muzzle Velocity: 2,700 fps – Max Pressure (Chamber): – 38,000 psi 10 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Actual Firing ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Proofed: 1902 – Sandy Hook Proving Grounds, NJ • Installed in fortifications in Puerto Rico – overhauled at Watervliet and re-lined in 1917 • It was eventually mounted on a disappearing carriage in Fort Grant, Panama Canal Zone, where it served until scrapped in 1943. 11 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Objective - Impact ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Objective: To strengthen seacoast defenses, to increase range and armor penetration capability, to firmly establish claims to territorial waters of the US shorelines • Impact (was objective met): YES – With the widely publicized capability, With the relatively easy victory of the Spanish American war, and the capabilities of the new 12” guns, the need for further 16” guns went away until World War 1 - – A new model M1919 16” gun was developed (greater range) and increasing numbers these guns for seacoast defense were acquired – The M1895/M1919 gun itself firmly established a claim to the territorial waters of the US, however, it is difficult to assess the deterrence factor 12 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Technical Significance ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Leap ahead technology(s) – prestress technologies (shrink fit and wire winding) 16 in M1895 Seacoast Cannon on new lathe – replaceable liner – Watervliet Arsenal, NY • Size and range capability in seacoast defense New York Times, 1898 – showed the European powers that US could match their expertise – Deterence factor • Spin off technologies spurred growth in other industries: – steam turbines – hydroelectric turbines 13 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Technical Significance ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • New manufacturing processes and plant prepared the US for the coming conflicts. • Machinery and Processes of the M1895 16” system led to 3rd generation of 16” guns for shipboard use that was capable of dominating the future World War 2 naval battles. 1616 in in Naval Naval Guns Gun 19441921 14 16” M1895 Seacoast Cannon (USA) Technical Significance ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Another key development was a new type of shell specifically designed for armor penetration – with a hardened shaped nose – protected by a windscreen. Ordnance Drawing – New Armor Piercing Projectile circa 1896 15 ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 16 Paris Kanone (aka Paris Gun) Background ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Background: In March 1918, Germany began a bombardment of Paris with a new weapon. • Modern world - first real war experience with a super gun. • At first – no one believed that this was gunfire ` 17 Paris Kanone (aka Paris Gun) Background ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Citizens were encouraged to recover shell fragments for authorities • Objective: With the exit of Russia from the war - German authorities believed that the panic in the French population would hasten peace talks and give it more favorable terms • Gun was officially named the Kaiser Wilhelm Geschütz 18 Paris Gun What set this weapon apart: ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Extreme Range: – Other weapons of the day – 20-30 km – Paris Gun 70+ kms 19 Paris Gun Fabrication/Construction ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Gun: – Outer ‘sleeve’ 38 cm (15”) L45 bored out – Two (2) section inner tube 210 mm (bore) tube • chamber 3m • rifling 18m (total about 98’ long) - • heat shrunk into sleeve. – 20’ long smoothbore extension added • Mount : – Modified 210 mm railway gun carriage . – In a fixed concrete barbette 20 Paris Gun What set this weapon apart ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Projectiles used were also a feat of engineering. – 40 in long projectile was supplied with dual copper alloy rotating bands – total weight about 250 lbs – Chamber/bore wear measured for each round and powder weight adjusted 21 Paris Gun What set this weapon apart: ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Data: – Bore: 21 cm – Length: • 30 m (rifled) + 6 m (smooth) – Outer Diameter: – Rifling: 210 mm (8.27”) – Weight: Gun + Carriage 400mts – Chamber: varied by wear – Range: 112 km (67 – 72 mi) – Projectile Weight: 103 kg (228 lb) – Muzzle Velocity: 1600 m/s (5,260 fps) – Max Pressure (Chamber): 53,000 psi 22 Paris Kanone Actual Firing ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • 7 cannons and 2 carriages were built • Fired on Paris from March to August 1918 • 1 gun exploded killing crew • Extremely manpower intensive – hydraulic hoists and special ammo carriages required. 23 Paris Gun Objective - Impact ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Objective: to terrorize the French and prompt the peace talks • Impact (was objective met): NO – Once the inaccuracy was well known – the French population as a whole ignored it – couldn’t create a widespread panic 24 Paris Kanone Technical Significance ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Engineering: – First weapon to account for Coriolis effect (spin of the earth) – Firing solution calculated the drag reduction in the upper atmosphere – Earth’s curvature also entered the calculations • Experience with this gun gave Germany the knowledge to create a new generation of extended range armaments starting in 1934. – German 28 cm K5 (E) – 42 cm railway gun, (Anzio Annie) (shown here) – 80 cm railway gun (Dora) – precursor to the 88 mm anti-aircraft gun (most successful weapon of WW2) 25 Schwerer Gustav (Dora) Background ISO 9001 Certified FS15149 • Development started in 1934 by Krupp without a contract • Purpose - destroying heavy fortifications, specifically those in the French Maginot Line. • German Government let contract in 1939 – D1 Schwerer Gustav (Heavy Gustav): – D2 Schwerer Langer